Level Up!
Game designers and artists inspire through innovation and imagination. They merge storytelling, art, and technology to bring interactive experiences to life.
The video game industry has grown into one of the largest and most successful on the globe, generating revenue of over $4 billion in Canada in 2021 alone.[1] With upwards of 1,000 active video game companies nation-wide (a 35 per cent increase since 2019)[2], video game artists and designers are in demand.
Our Video Game Art & Design (VGAD) program taps into this growth, providing training in the creative approaches involved in making engaging interactive experiences. In this rapidly evolving field, we prepare you for exciting work through the exploration of creative foundations and the application of game design theory, technical practices and aesthetic skills for a credential that is sought after world-wide.
Not just about providing entertainment, game designers and products are embraced by numerous industries today to improve our ability to solve the world’s problems, train the workforce of tomorrow, and fuel innovative discovery through digital interactions and simulation. This innovative field is also building skills for today’s technology-driven labour market through creative vision and the desire to influence the possibilities of tomorrow.
Apply now and take your career to an exciting new level!
Program Highlights
- Mentorship with faculty who have decades worth of industry experience and credits
- Extensive training in game theory and design, 2D and 3D art, game mechanics and visual scripting, narrative and level design
- Studies in art fundamentals, serious games, design documentation, creative writing, art history, sound design, interactive and visual storytelling, virtual reality experiences, game industry business and portfolio development
- Career opportunities in games, simulation and related media can include: quality assurance game tester, game producer, game designer (entertainment, education, training and simulation, etc.), level designer, writer, 2D and 3D asset artist, texture artist, character modelling, graphic interface designer, user interface designer, animator, sound designer, cinematographer, entrepreneur for media design
Did You Know?
- There are over 900 active video game studios in Canada (a 35% increase since 2019).
- In 2021, the gaming industry contributed $5.5 billion to Canada’s GDP (an increase of 29% since 2019).
- VGAD graduates have worked at companies and projects including Epic Games, Other Ocean Interactive, Ubisoft Halifax, Sculpin, Zorbit’s Math by Carnegie Learning, Stormy Shore Studio, SMSM Mummer’s Journey Gams and Kraken Robotics.
- Students have competed at Skills Canada competitions, winning gold and bronze medals on the national level, and competed internationally in the WorldSkills Competition.
- The global games market will continue to grow, expecting to exceed $200 billion by 2023 (newzoo.com).
OBJECTIVES:
Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will be able to:
- Understand and utilize the theory, practices, computer software, and hardware resources needed to create video game art and design.
- Demonstrate appropriate attitudes, behaviours, and work practices for employment in the game industry and other areas of media development.
- Utilize effective visual, oral and written communication skills, and continue to grow personally in one-on-one communications.
- Promote their work through portfolio development.
- Work productively in a collaborative team environment.
- Appreciate the role of history and art history as game art and design references.
- Cultivate a desire for life-long learning.
- Design original video games, art, and narrative for games.
FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES:
There are many diverse opportunities for graduates of the Video Game Art & Design program.
Graduates may choose from an array of different exciting careers, including, but not limited to: Quality Assurance Game Tester, Game Producer, Game Designer (entertainment, education, training and simulation, etc..), Level Designer, Writer for games and related media, Concept Artist for games and related media, 2D and 3D Asset Artist for games and related media, 3D Modeller for simulation, Texture Artist for games and related media, Character Modelling for games and related media, Graphic Interface Designer, Animator for games and related media, Sound Designer for games and related media, Cinematographer for games and related media*, Entrepreneur for media design, Marketing and Promotions for games and related media.
*Related media includes film, digital animation, visual arts, graphic arts, simulation, music and audio production, etc.
ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS
Eligibility for admission to the Video Game Art & Design program requires the applicant to meet one of the following four academic criteria:
1. High School
Provincial High School Graduation Certificate with a 60% average in eight level 3000 credits or equivalent
2. College Transition (prior to 2024, students would have completed Comprehensive Arts and Science (CAS) Transition)
College Transition Certificate
3. Adult Basic Education (ABE)
Adult Basic Education (Level III) Graduation with General College Profile (or Business-Related College Profile or Degree and Technical Profile) with an average pass mark of 60%
4. Mature Student Requirements
Applicants who do not meet the education prerequisites for this program, are 19 years at the time of application and out of school for at least one year may be considered on an individual basis under the Mature Student Requirements; for more information regarding the Mature Student Requirements please refer to
Procedure AC-102-PR Admission.
Note: It is highly recommended that those applying for the Video Game Art & Design program have an appreciation for drawing and creating art, basic computer skills as well as strong core skills in English and writing.
PORTFOLIO REQUIREMENTS:
All applicants to the Video Game Art & Design program must submit a portfolio as part of the admission requirements. A portfolio is a collection of the applicant’s work, based on detailed guidelines as described below, that shows the potential to build on demonstrated skills and aptitudes when in the program.
The applicant portfolio should consist of:
- An essay which consists of a written personal statement explaining your reasons for wanting to be a video game artist and/or designer, your goals, and your interest in the program at College of the North Atlantic. This should be approximately 300 to 400 words.
- Two pieces of art as described below by the College's Video Game Art & Design program portfolio entry detailed guidelines.
Portfolio Entry – Detailed Guidelines
All applicants to the Video Game Art & Design program must submit the specific, assigned writing and art samples to fulfil additional program entry requirements. The additional entry requirements should consist of:
1. An essay which consists of a written personal statement explaining your reasons for wanting to be a video game artist and/or designer, your goals, and your interest in the program at College of the North Atlantic. This should be approximately 300 to 400 words.
Present your document as follows:
- The document must be delivered in a digital format or printed on paper from a digital format (not hand written).
- Write it in a font of Times New Roman at a font size of 12, double spaced
- Title the document: VGAD Essay by “your name”
- Set only the title in a bold font, no cover page
- Proper articulation of content and writing mechanics are expected and presented in paragraph form (grammar, spelling, syntax, structure, etc.)
- Save the document as a common digital file type (docx, doc, rtf) with your last name in the file name, for example: Smith_Essay.rtf
- If word processing software is unavailable, providing the content within the body of an email is acceptable. Additionally a physical, typed print-out can be mailed.
2. Two pieces of art as outlined below by the College’s Video Game Art and Design program.
Present your document as follows:
- Please sign and date each piece.
- Please include PHOTOCOPIES or DIGITAL COPIES ONLY, as the portfolio will not be returned.
- All submissions must be your own work. Any submission that contains plagiarized work, copied either manually or electronically, will be disqualified and you will be refused consideration.
- Any submission that contains inappropriate or offensive content will be refused consideration.
- ENSURE THAT YOUR NAME IS ON EACH OF THE CLEARLY LABELLED PIECES.
- Additional drawings or game ideas will not be accepted, viewed, or considered.
- Art submissions should show the applicant’s current level of proficiency in the visual arts.
- All observational drawings are to be executed from real-life subject material, not from photographs, images, artwork, or other drawings.
- Drawings must be made on 8.5 x 11 sheets of plain white paper.
2a. Pencil sketch of a landscape (not based on images or photos). You may draw this from inside, looking out a window and it may include a building structure. Suggested time for completion of the final drawing, not including practice sketches: 30 – 60 minutes.
2b. Pencil or color pencil drawing of a real toy such as an action figure, collectible statue, video game console controller, teddy bear, or vehicle (not based on images or photos). The full view of the toy is visible in the drawing. Suggested time for completion of the final drawing, not including practice sketches: 30 – 60 minutes.
View the Application Portfolio Rubric for this program (57KB PDF)
HOW DO I SUBMIT THESE ADDITIONAL ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS?
- Applicants should submit only copies of their artwork, such as a photocopied drawing, or a digital scan of the drawing. No originals should be submitted. Include applicant name and contact information.
- Do not submit any framed, fragile or 3-dimensional work. Take a photo and submit that instead. Include applicant name and contact information.
- If applicants submit digital files, please burn them onto a disk to include with the application, or email the images and include applicant name and contact information.
- Any physical photocopies or printed pages of work on paper should be submitted in a 9 “x12” envelope and identified with applicant name on each page. Include applicant name and contact information within.
- Each item included should be identified with an applicant name and date, and entry requirement number at the bottom of the page. Include contact information.
Please note: We emphasize that while advanced levels of writing, drawing, and computer skills may be an asset, they are not necessary, nor a guarantee for admission to the program.